PREMIUM
**$20 TUESDAY** >> Rogers' 10* TOTAL MASSACRE (Lakers/Bulls)
(NBA) Chicago vs. LA Lakers,
Total: 210.00 | -109.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 210.00 | -109.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: LA rookie Lonzo Ball is in the spotlight every game and his "learning experience" has often been painful (31.3 FG percentage, including 22.8 percent on threes). However, he does come into this home game with the Bulls having produced two triple-doubles in the past five games. Ball had 11 points, a career-best 16 rebounds and 11 assists in Sunday's 127-109 victory over the Denver Nuggets.The Lakers are 7-10 overall and welcome the 3-11 Chicago Bulls to Staples Center on Tuesday, in the NBA's lone contest.
Chicago: The Bulls have their own talented rookie in forward Lauri Markkanen (Arizona), who is averaging 15.6 PPG and 8.0 RPG. However, his early season strong play hasn't prevented Chicago from getting off to a poor start. Markkanen scored a season-best 26 points and also collected 13 rebounds in the team's 113-105 in Phoenix this past Sunday. Five other Bulls are averaging in double digits but Chicago ranks 29th in scoring (95.5 PPG) on 41.4 percent shooting (30th).
LA Lakers: Head coach Luke Walton was impressed with Ball's latest outing. "It's what we've been saying the whole time, even when he's not scoring the ball, he has rebounds, assists and steals," Walton told reporters. "Sixteen is a lot, (but) I'm not totally shocked by it. He's really good down there on the glass." Power forward Julius Randle (12.2 & 6.7) had a superb outing with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the victory over Denver. Kyle Kuzma (a rookie from Utah) leads the Lakers in scoring at 16.5 PPG and also tops the team at seven rebounds per game.
The pick: This game will also features the latest matchup between twin brothers Brook Lopez of the Lakers and Robin Lopez of the Bulls. Robin has never come close to averaging more points than Brook in any of their previous nine seasons in the NBA but Robin has closed the gap significantly this season. Robin comes in averaging 13.3 points after never averaging more than 11.3 for a season, while Brook is averaging 15.4 points, down from his career average of 18.5. The Bulls are a pathetic 1-7 on the road, allowing 109.1 PPG. Meanwhile, a "typical" LA home game averages 217.1 PPG. That makes this a 10* play on the Over.
Chicago: The Bulls have their own talented rookie in forward Lauri Markkanen (Arizona), who is averaging 15.6 PPG and 8.0 RPG. However, his early season strong play hasn't prevented Chicago from getting off to a poor start. Markkanen scored a season-best 26 points and also collected 13 rebounds in the team's 113-105 in Phoenix this past Sunday. Five other Bulls are averaging in double digits but Chicago ranks 29th in scoring (95.5 PPG) on 41.4 percent shooting (30th).
LA Lakers: Head coach Luke Walton was impressed with Ball's latest outing. "It's what we've been saying the whole time, even when he's not scoring the ball, he has rebounds, assists and steals," Walton told reporters. "Sixteen is a lot, (but) I'm not totally shocked by it. He's really good down there on the glass." Power forward Julius Randle (12.2 & 6.7) had a superb outing with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the victory over Denver. Kyle Kuzma (a rookie from Utah) leads the Lakers in scoring at 16.5 PPG and also tops the team at seven rebounds per game.
The pick: This game will also features the latest matchup between twin brothers Brook Lopez of the Lakers and Robin Lopez of the Bulls. Robin has never come close to averaging more points than Brook in any of their previous nine seasons in the NBA but Robin has closed the gap significantly this season. Robin comes in averaging 13.3 points after never averaging more than 11.3 for a season, while Brook is averaging 15.4 points, down from his career average of 18.5. The Bulls are a pathetic 1-7 on the road, allowing 109.1 PPG. Meanwhile, a "typical" LA home game averages 217.1 PPG. That makes this a 10* play on the Over.
